CECA09

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CECA 2009
Add your comments and info for the sessions you attend.

Session 1: 7:30-8:30
Mimio: The New Whiteboard Technology with Lynn Reedy
  • Portable Xi bar and stylus attaches to whiteboard act as an interactive white board.
  • Mimio pad to circulate throughout class to control computer.
  • Lynn is the Tech Coordinator at Stafford and grades 1-12 have them for all teachers.
  • Brian O’Hara representative for CT.
  • Mimio has utrasound and infrared so xi can sit on top of the wall, ideally white for good background.
  • Xi needs 4 double A batteries or AC adapter.
  • 5 year warrantee for damage and theft.
  • Software does not require a license once you purchase one for your school.
  • Xi with USB is $549 with educational pricing, wirless is $199 for total of $748.
  • Mimio Pad is $399 has stickers to mark tools.
  • Mimio site: http://www.mimio.com/index.asp.
  • Mimioconnect is free: http://www.mimioconnect.com/ has lessons, resources, teacher forums, upcoming events
  • You can download software to test.
  • Powerpoints can be played and imported but transitions and effects don’t import.
  • Screens can be “frozen,” annotated and captured. Use tools to capture/clip screen.
  • Mimio can be used by anyone and anywhere; SMART is only if you have a SMART Board at your school.
  • Mimio notebook software is available, but you can use out on web and with other software.
  • Notebook has gallery of resources.
  • Be sure to update gallery because of new features. New Mac version added just recently. Check MimioConnect for updates and news. Updates seem to come out annually.
  • Notebook software can import images, videos (for example, DE Science for MS), flash (.swf in advanced search), etc.
  • PowerTools pack allows you to add “reveals” to your notebook.
  • Lynn shared a variety of activities with Notebook, interactive web sites, etc.
  • Lynn's website: http://www.lynnreedy.com/ has Mimio lessons available.

Keynote: Jamie McKenzie
The Centrality of Questioning and Comprehension
  • http://fno.org/sept08/cut.html
  • http://questioning.org/qtech.html
  • http://fno.org
  • Most elementary schools across nation are cutting certified librarian. Exception seems to be those communities that have parents employed in high tech – parents understand value.
  • How do we engage kids to do original thought?
  • Give students choices: China research – pick a city. What categories? What climate information, what questions do you need the answers to? Appropriate to K-12 classrooms.
  • One librarian described student research as: “Collect and scoop for 2 weeks, then smush the night before.” – low level research and comprehension.
  • Research on six strategies (see #1): http://questioning.org/tests/beating.html -- better understanding, better scores.
  • Real test is how students do as adults in real life.
  • Some of his questions: Do we want thinkers? Look at life in different perspectives. Flicker – 365 pictures during the year. Good place to practice originality, creativity, etc. and connect with research and other work.
  • Face-to-face – eye contact and cues create learning, relationship with the learners. Distance learning doesn’t work for him.
  • Can kids write and understand a paragraph?
  • Technologies can be non-digital – print materials, post-it notes, etc.
  • Finds Digital Native, Digital Immigrant insulting – still wide range of skills no matter what age, especially complex thinking.
  • Biomaker: http://www.fno.org/bio/biomaker.htm.
  • Inspiration example: Find the line from text (Joan of Arc) and then “so what” above the line. Thought process is prior to computer, but tech has some good tools. “Bells and whistles in Inspiration can draw focus away from deep thinking.
  • “What is beauty?” Activities with New Zealand girls’ school. The eventual dictionary definition was disappointing to them.
  • NAEP test items example -- higher level skills as you move right. Search on: “Chapter Two” “NAEP Reading Assessment”
  • The Mystery Curriculum: http://questioning.org/apr08/mystery.html.
  • Questions of Import can be challenging and disturbing, but important.
  • Research that uncovers, discovers and builds meaning.

Session 2: 11:00-12:00
Reading Across a Dozen Literacies with Jamie McKenzie
  • This is a chapter in the book.
  • http://fno.org/mar09/dozen.html
  • Irish poet John O’Donohue, one on the topic of Beauty: The Invisible Embrace.
  • Don’t fix schools by test scores. Magnet and charter schools are not necessarily better. Testing more and instructing less.
  • We need to broadened conception of reading. Reading as understanding applies to many aspects of life. “Read a face,” understand a chart, etc.
  • Pentagon vertices: Comprehending, Wandering Pondering, Wondering, Considering
  • VisualThesaurus.com – lateral thinking – cost for service (key for one month subscription: email: trial1@visualthesaurus.com, password: start601)
  • Field Guide to Getting Lost by Rebecca Solait
  • Disussion for level of sysnthsis: http://fno.org/may09/synthesis.html
  • Film, advertising and propaganda terms as well as literary terms are needed for teachers. New Mexico Media Literacy Project Toolkit: http://fnopress.stores.yahoo.net//melito.html
  • http://questioning.org/jun09/video.html is an article written after the book.
  • Literacies: organizational, numerical, artistic, visual scientific, environmental natural ethical social/cultural, text, emotional, media
  • Software can influence how the mind works – start with Inspiration (divergent thinking), then Word (white paper), then PowerPoint (for summary)

Session 4: 1:45-2:45
Social Networking, a 21st Century Tool with Irene Kwidzinski
PowerPoint presentation and related documents can be found at: http://ctcasl.ning.com/forum/topics/social-networking

Who is preparing children for the unfiltered web, the “real-time” web?
  • Hopefully teachers, librarians and professionals.

How are social networks used?
  • Connect and engage
  • Build community and rich content
  • Gather news and research
  • Crowdsource and build a source list
  • Seek jobs, interviews
  • Create business
Social Networking is a chance to transform yourself and others.

Is it safe to use social networks?
  • Currently most districts block social networks
  • Most districts do not have social media guidelings
  • “Walled garden”
  • Creating a permanent record
  • Age restrictions

Are there any guidelines?
  • Think Social Media Guidelines
  • Online Database of Social Media Policies
  • IBM Social Computing Guidelines
  • Corporate Social Guidelines

Ning – a social network for creating social networks
  • CASL Ning developed for professional development.
  • All resources are on the CASL Ning. (Under Forums, Social Networkings)
  • Lee Crockett – “Any professional development without follow through is malpractice.” Social networks can provide follow through.
  • Instead of chasing down people, invite them as a Ning.
  • Suggestion is to start with Teachers and show use before looking to get students on.

Session 5: 3:00-4:00
Score! Winning Strategies to Conquer Information Overload with Kathy Schrock
  • http://kathyschrock.net/score/ and link for presentation is on http://www.ceca-ct.org/page.php?pid=85
  • “Plan your work and work your plan.” From Vince Lombardi
  • Some highlights:
  • For email use filters, folders, etc.
  • Don’t forget to use your camera – all cellphones have them.
  • Google Alert – Follow topics you wish to monitor.
  • Ning – classroom20.com – sharing network for educators
  • Twitter’s purpose is give and take.
  • Edmodo if you don’t have access to Moodle
  • xmarks – Firefox plug-in (not social bookmarking)
  • Delicious and Diigo are for social bookmarking.
  • Online Task-Keeping
  • Collaborative Docs – Google, EtherPad (free for 8 users)
  • Glide OS 3.0 for online storage – web-based operating system and syncs with many devices.
  • Shally Steckerl: http://www.slideshare.net/beeshields/information-overload-506995